Cigarette extinguisher



June 27, 1944.

J. B. HINSON CIGARETTE EXTINGUISHER Filed April 29, 1940 INVENTOR JAY B. HINSON BY, m%%flflk H/6 ATTORNEYS Patented June 27, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,352,198 CIGARETTE nx'rmoursnna Jay B. .Hinson, Hartsdale, N. Y.

Application limit 29, 1940, Serial No. 332,164

3 Claims.

My invention relates to cigarette extinguishers, the primary object of the invention being to make the proper disposition of a. partially consumed cigarette or cigar so convenient that the improper disposition of such articles will disappear.

The invention aims to provide a cigarette extinguisher capable of extinguishing the burning end of the cigarette more quickly and with less efiort than the prior devices which have been proposed for this purpose.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cigarette extinguishing mechanism which lends itself readily to combination in an ash tray.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cigarette extinguisher which can be carried conveniently in the pocket or in a woman's pocketbook or handbag.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cigarette extinguisher construction which is especially practical from the standpoint of cost of manufacture, the parts of the extinguisher mechanism being few in number and so constructed and arranged that the device can be made at an extremely low cost on account of its simplicity.

The invention will be understood from a consideration of the accompanying drawing which illustrates by way of example several embodiments thereof.

Referring now to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view in vertical section of an ash tray for table and desk use embodying my improved extinguisher;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a modified form of such an ash tray embodying the invention;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section looking upwardly on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; v

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken higher up through the extinguishing mechanism shown in Fig. 2 but looking down;

Fig. 5 is a view in longitudinal section of a pocket type of extinguisher;

Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken on line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 of a modification;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section of a further modification intended for use in a motor vehicle;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the extinguishing member shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is a vertical section of a modified form of extinguishing member and mounting;

Fig. 11 is a similar view of a further modifl-' cation; and

Fig. 12 isa view of adetail of the construction shown in Fig. 11.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing, and first to the device shown in Fig. 1 the ash tray 1 here illustrated may be made of any suitable material, such. for example, as ceramic ware or a suitable molded plastic material, and comprises an annular shelf portion 2 and a central, preferably cylindrical recess 3 which is closed by a dome-shaped member 4 resting upon lugs 5. The lower edge of dome-shaped member 4 is received below a shoulder G at the top of recess 3 so' that a reasonably tight 'joint is provided for the purpose of excluding .the free entrance of air into the chamber 1 which is formed by domeshaped member I and recess 3.

Member 4 is provided at the top with a cigarette-receiving aperture 8 having a diameter somewhat larger than that of a cigarette, it being unnecessary that the cigarette fit the aperture closely. In the event a particular device is desired principally for extinguishing cigars, this aperture is made of suitable size to receive cigars, that is,'a little larger than the average cigar. Cigarettes may readily be extinguished in cigar extinguishers. It is somewhat more desirable, however, to have separate extinguishers available for both cigars and cigarettes or to provide domeshaped member 4 with two apertures, one of each size. These remarks-apply not only to the form of my invention illustrated in Fig. 1, but also to the modifications to be presently described.

Cigarette-receiving aperture 8 ,is flared slightly at its mouth so as to facilitate the entrance of the burning tip of the cigarette, and the length of this aperture or throat is such as to accommodate the length of the average cigarettev stub or butt at the time it is discarded and permit its burning tip to be brought in contact with a valve-like abrading member 9 having a relatively high central part with downwardly sloping sides, positioned at the inner end of aperture '8. Abrading member 9 is attached tothe upper and small end of a volute, or spiral, wire spring N1, the lower end of which is supported uponlugs II projecting inwardly from the walls of dome-shaped member '4. The abrading member 5 may be secured to spring 10 by winding one or more turns of the spring wire at the center of th spiral tightly on the stem of membere, or in any other convenient way, to prevent rotation of member 9. The friction of the outermost turn. of the spring on its supporting lugs is sufficient to prevent rotation of the spring.

In extinguishing a cigarette the cigarette stub S is inserted in aperture 8 and the burning tip is thrust against the valve-like abrading member 9, usually with sufficient pressure to force the member inwardly away from its seat, thus compressing spring I to a greater or less extent. The extinguishing. motion may be merely a reciprocating motion, the cigarette stub being worked up and down, or it may be an oscillating motion produced byrollingthe upper end-oi-the cigarette stub between the fingers (usuallyibfetween the thumb and first finger), or it may be a combination of these two motions. abrading member 9 and spring l0, aspreviously explained, is such that the abrading member is aperture [8, the two portions being connected together by a shoulder portion l9. These parts comprise a cigarette extinguisher mechanism of a sort similar to that described in connection with Fig. 1.

A tool 20 illustrated in detail in Fig. 4 is urged upwardly by means of a volute wire spring 2|, the rim portion 22 of the tool preferably being smooth so as to constitute a valve which closes The mounting 0 t .1:

cigarette.

with cutting teeth to remove the burning material from the end of the cigarette stub S in an extremelyshort and quick operation. Tool is ,provided with a central depending stem as indicated in the -drawings, similar to that of grind- The walls of the aperture or mouth 8 guide the cigarette in such a way as to cause the central portion of the burning tip to engage the high central part of abradingmember 9,; producing disintegration of the tip by a combined iexpan sive andabrasi-ve action, the surface of abrading member 9 being roughened-to a suflicient extent to'exert a disintegrating-action upon the ashes and burning material on the cigarette tip. The thrust or pressure-of thezstubon the valve-like abrading member forcesit inwardly from its seat and opens. a. valve-like passageway between the abrading member and aperture 8 and permits the ashes and-churning material .to descend around the peripheral. .edges of the abrading member into the; chamber, 1 where they-collect on the floor of recess Assoon as the-combustion at the endofthe stub is extinguished, without removing the fingers iromthe stub, itis lifted from the aperture .3 and placed onthe shelf portion of theasli tray-l. I I v As soon as the pressure on the cigarettestub S is released, spring l0 returns valveelike. too. 9 to its normal position as shown in Fig. 1 ,"thus closing aperture -8. This accomplishes two things; first, theclosing of aperture 8 prevents the escape of odorsresulting from whatever; combus'tion of the disintegrated material may .take.

- place Within. chamber -1; second, --it pr,events.

the entranceofiireshair. from the outside into chamberlso thatlthe combustion of the smoldering material ground from-the burning ,end of the cigarette ceases ,due. to the lack ofcombustion air and to the disinteg'rated state oif the groundv on material. 5. 7

After aYnumbr of cigarettes have 'been extinguished inthis way the' collection of stubs on the shelf portion zmayhe 'fbrushed into. the recess 3,, using the dome-shaped member or the pitch of shelf Zjrinay be: made steep enough so that as soon as member 4 is 1ifted,'the stubs will slide into therecess. Therim of ashtray. I is provided fwithia series of pockets I 2 in, which lighted cigarettes may be rested before being completely consumed. I

guisher"and ash-tray isprovided which comprises atray l'3 "of metal or'other suitable material having a l-removable bell 'M resting'at the center, the tray I 3 and bell ll-being of such shape thatthe lower 'edge of the bell fits fairly closely the surface of'theztray,a=thereby forming a substantially closed chamber. l 5. within the'bell. Secured at the upper end of bell member I l-there' is a tubular member indicated generally by ref erence; numerall6 which is provided with a.

lower enlarged eylindricalportion and an ll; per throat portion forming-a.cigarettereceivmgx .ing 'me'mber' 9, to which the upper end of spring I 2! is frictionally, or otherwise secured in such manner as to prevent its rotation when the cigarette stub is rotated'in contact with it.

.-The-'.lo'wer'end of spring 2! issupported-upon a plurality of small projections 23 bentinwardly from the lower margin ofthe cylindrical portion ll of'tubular'member l6. These are shown in bottom view in Fig. 3. The lower end portion 24 of spring 2| is preferably extendedcrosswise as 'shown in Fig. 2 and forms the support for a bell clapper 25, if 'one is desired. I

The entire mechanism can be assembled within the tubular member [6 veryquickly and by a very.simple operation; The tool 20 and spring 2 l having bell clapper 25 attached thereto are placed within the-lower endof tubular member l6 and the lowermost coil-of' spring 2| is sprung past projections 23. l This extinguisher shown in Fig. 2 is used in substantially the same way as-described in connection with Fi-g. 1. The tool 20 is smaller in diameter than theinterior ofthe lower portion IT ofthe tubular member so as to allow the disintegratedparticles to descend around the edges oftthe grinding tool and then pass through-the coils of spring 20 into chamber l5.. I

The securing of tubular member I 6 at thecen; tral portion of the top of the bell, and the sus: pending of bell clapper 25 at the center of the lowerend of tubular; member IS does not inter-. fere with the vibration of the device to produce a ringing bell-like sound, and the flared upper end of throat l8 constitutes a convenient handle.

Referring now to Figs'. 5 and [,ther'e are here illustrated, two forms of my improved cigarette extinguisher which can be conveniently carried in. the pocket or in a womans pocketbook. Referring first to Fig. 5, this device comprises two tele:

scoping tubular members 26 and 21 which, al-

though illustrated as cylindrical, may be square,

hexagonal or other desired shape in cross section. The lower portion 21. which forms the chamber from forcleaning.

" The upper end of tubular member 26 -isl provided. with a flared cigarette-receiving throat 28 similar to throat l8 of the form shown in Fig. 2,.

and in fact tubular member 26 isquit similar to tubularmember I6, and the cigarette extinguishing vmechanism is like that shown in I except that the volute spring. lqa for supporting;

the abrading member 9 is somewhatsmaller in diameter. H spring His is seated-upon; a plurality of indentations 29 which are pressed inwardly irom 'the In this form of. my invention the.

edge, 51 'o'ilthe' lowehflarcd portion 46 of tubular member 45.? I 3* .it: tile-zit. a '1 In: this kformf'ash tray? the dome shaped member..-53 isheld'in centralposition on thetray member 56 by means': of: a plurality; of upward projections 58 pressed. into the? zbotton'i 1' of": :the tray. .=In=.this'way: freezaccessis permitteda-to the central. portion 1' of the: tray; so: that :the extinguished stubs from 1211600111381: portion-i ofa'the trayvcanbe brushed-into the space rbelowjthe dome-shaped member-fl-asdesired; -11: It will bequnderstoodthatany;ofi th'efo'rms of abrading members illustrated. [may be' used in anyi of the various modifications ofi:the extinguisherui The-pitch :oi theirsurfacesis preferably such as to enable, theground' off materials to" move as freely-as possible intozthe combustionsuppressing-chamberi 1 i; 1: 1 z; ,The volute springs illustrated-inz-the :jorms of the invention-showni-i'n Figsr2,:;5, 7;'and 8-are de sirable for simplicity and. cheapnessof construction and at the.sametimezprovide'ior.the free entrance of 1 the, groundy'off :materials from the abrading member through the lower partiof the tubular member. 1-6,;1- I6,- .26. and a 2635 into the combustion-suppressing,- -chambers:-. below; :The ground off particlescanflow; or pass freelyin a longitudinal direction'through the-spaces between the horizontally-as Welles-vertically separated coils of theseisprings. 1, In addition since the coils of a volute spring-decrease in diametertowards the apex, the spring becomes gradually;stifier't0- wards the apex andztl'iistogetheriwith the wide base at the bottom; gives:thedesi-red-support and control ofthe valve-like abrading. member; i Also inthe device shown in Fig. 1 the wide baseiof the volute springenables i-t-to. be supported upon the comparatively-short lugs H and this; facilitates the manu'factureof the-dome-shaped member 4. The cigarette-receiving aperture orfthroat -.in all forms of the-extinguisher, such," forexample, as the aperture 8, of the device of. Fig." 1, should be enough larger in diameter than thesi'ze of the cigarette 'so' as to permit :and' facilitate the free rotation or turning of thecigaretteby rol1'-,

ing it betWeen-thefingers, that is-to say,,usually between the'thumb-and ,first finger, the, surface. of the aperture serving, as a guide bearingrto direct the end of the, cigarette against the grind? ing member while exerting -a minimum of fric tional. resistance to 1 the rotationofthe -cigarette.-. The; apertuiemay be considerably larger than the cigarettesince,- as soon as the 'operation of grinding Oil. the burning materials is completed, the apertureis closed by the valve-acting abrading members p l 1;;

The cigarette extinguishing mechanism 'of-wthe present invention contains simple parts which are few in number and all can bemanu-facturedreadily and at low cost., ."I"h e assembly of the mechanism is particularly .simpleandalso contributes to low cost of manuiacture. Themechanism furthermore lendslitself readily to t combination with an ash tray w thout substantially altering its appearance The dome-shaped mem-Q her 4, for example,"in the form'shown in Ffig. l is not unlike in appearance tothe knob-like members provided 'in ash trays" tobe use-moi flicking ofi the ashes "of cigarette's'andfior racermg the ashesout :of: tobacco 'pipeszixmhisz dome member '4 can ,be used for such purposes if .desired; .1 i 1" 1 j i :It will be.understood that the wabove is an examplifying disclosure of 15a number of embodiments of my invention. and that various changes may. bemade' without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention which'is" defined in the appended claims; It will also be understood that :in these claims-the term-:cigarette includes cigars and similar' mokers articles. -,=It-wlll"-beffurtherlunderstood that any of the hollowmembers 4; l5 or-:53: may be used with any suitable-:tray other; than those illustrated in the drawing and that if desired suchhollow member-with its-"cigarette extinguishing mechanism may, be: considered as .pana article of manufacture distinct from the-tray with which it is to be used-i v '1;

:I;claim:: i I

ilk-In a cigarette extinguishena chamber for receiving burning material from a lighted cigarette, said chamber-having a mouth within-which the burning tip ofa cigarette maywbe'insertei-a circular -vaive-like abrading member -normally closing said mouth .and'being resiliently mounted for-:movement bodily under-the thrustliof the cigarette to open said mouthand permit abraded material to enter said chamber, said abrading memben having a relatively high central part with downwardlysloping sides and saidmouth being arranged-to guide :thecentralporti'on or the icigarette tip into :engagement with the high central part of --the abradingmember causing said 'tip-to be expanded to aid in disintegrating the'sam'e, 4

,2. In? a cigarette extinguisher, a 'chamber'for receiving burningmaterial from a lighted cigar ette, said chamber having a-mouth within which the burning tip of a cigarette may be inserted, a circular valve-like :abrading member normally closing-said mouth and being resiliently mounted for movement axially with respect to said mouth toopem'orwclose the same and yielding under the thrust of the cigarette to-"open position to permit material to enter said chamber, said abrading member having a relatively high central partwith downwardly sloping sides and said mouthhavingwallspositioned to guidethe cigarette-to cause the central portion of theburning tiplto engage the highcentral'part of the abrasive memberthereby enabling the tip to be disintegrated by" expansive and abrasive action;

- 3. In a cigarette extinguisher having'a cham-' ben-ior-receiving burningmaterial form a lighted cigarette, said chamber having a mouth within which the burning tip of a cigarette may be inserted,-an abrading membe'r having a; roughened conical, surface resiliently mounted. for axial movement within said chamber and coacting with said :mouth to close the same, the walls of said mouth beingadapted toguide the cigarette into engagem'entwwith said abradingmember, said memberbeing adapted to remove material on the burning tipcf the cigarette when itis engaged therewith and simultaneously yieldin g 'inwardlyto admit the abraded materialinto the chamber.

JAY B. HINSON. 

